Day 5 Sleights to Whitby

Another warm day. We started from Sleights railway station today with an interview with Sîan from Radio Tees. This should be broadcast this coming Sunday and I will put in the link when I have it live. Nine pilgrims today with two new ones for the day this time from Scarborough.

Sleights from the path

There were lovely views of Sleights as we ascended but unfortunately the steam train running to Whitby was hidden from our sight by trees. However we could see the sight of the Abbey, St Mary’s, St Hilda’s Anglican and St Hilda’s Priory as we journeyed on. The church today was St Hilda’s in Sneaton. Here we were welcomed by members of the church including the organist who played for us to sing ‘Praise my soul the King of Heaven’. So rousing was the singing, we sang it again. Appropriate for Caedmon, whose serene figure shone over us from the stained glass window.

Refreshments at SneatonVeronica with us

Then we crossed the road to some delicious refreshments from three ladies of the church and enjoyed a rest in the village hall.

The vicar, Veronica joined us for the next stage of our journey as we went along the ‘Monk’s Trod’ heading for Whitby. The viaduct over the River Esk, which now carries the Scarborough-Whitby cycle route, gave us even better views of our final destination tomorrow.

Our destination

A final prayer in a quiet back street before we joined the throng of holiday-makers at the river side in Whitby and caught a glance of the book ‘Walking St Hilda’s Way’ on sale in the Tourist Information Centre.
Nancy